Surfing along the Great Ocean Road
Oct 16th, 2011, 01:33 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Surfing along the Great Ocean Road
We are spending 3 days along the GOR (Port Campbell to Melbourne) in December and my surfer son is keen to surf a bit somewhere along the way. He won't have his board with him and is not used to Australian waves. Is there a place that he can hire a board and which beach would be recommended. Do all the beaches have lifesavers (concerned mother speaking)?
Oct 17th, 2011, 01:21 PM
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KatPen, in case you don't realise, ignore the post above. None of those places are even in Victoria much less the Great Ocean Road. I assume it just an advertisement which, of course, isn't allowed here anyway.
You will certainly be able to hire boards at Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne and quite probably some of the small towns as well, may be Wye River and Port Campbell.
At Torquay, Anglesea, Eastern Beach, Apollo Bay and Lorne there are patrolled surf beaches. There are others as well. There probably are at some of the other locations as well and there are many, many unpatrolled beaches. If your son is inexperienced he would be better to give them a miss, especially as it possible to find a fairly isolated beach and no one may know he is even in trouble.
As to which beach to go to, it is better to wait until he gets there and see what the weather is like. Depending on which direction the wind is coming from, the tide and the weather it can make a huge difference. When he hires a surfboard the surf shop will advise him of the best place to go any particular day and should take into account his level of experience.
You will certainly be able to hire boards at Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne and quite probably some of the small towns as well, may be Wye River and Port Campbell.
At Torquay, Anglesea, Eastern Beach, Apollo Bay and Lorne there are patrolled surf beaches. There are others as well. There probably are at some of the other locations as well and there are many, many unpatrolled beaches. If your son is inexperienced he would be better to give them a miss, especially as it possible to find a fairly isolated beach and no one may know he is even in trouble.
As to which beach to go to, it is better to wait until he gets there and see what the weather is like. Depending on which direction the wind is coming from, the tide and the weather it can make a huge difference. When he hires a surfboard the surf shop will advise him of the best place to go any particular day and should take into account his level of experience.
Oct 17th, 2011, 05:41 PM
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unless he is an expert surfer he will to stick to the patrolled beaches. The west coast of Victoria does have some impressive surf at times - winter is really the time for the biggest, but you will get some good surf all year round. Remember there is no land between Australia and the Antarctic! Many of the beaches are long and open and there will be, as a result a longshore current, inshore channel and rips. None are a problem if he is competent and/or aware. Anglesea is a nice bay to surf in. Faihaven will be a bit bigger but is also patrolled. They should all be patrolled every day during summer but definitely on the weekends.
This is the website for the Surf life saving association who patrol the beaches.
http://www.sls.com.au/
Perhaps stating the obvious here - is he aware of surfing etiquette? The beaches of Torquay and so on will have their locals who are not impressed with visitors. He is on "their beach". So things like not dropping in on someone's wave etc are a big deal and can lead to fights, swearing etc. I think this is standard around the world of surfing. I'm sure that if he talks to them and makes it clear that he is from another country he should go a long way, as will talking to the surf shop people.
This is the site for the surf riders associatio
http://www.surfrider.org.au/
He will have a good time.
For the worried mother.
No one has ever drowned whilst surfing/swimming between the flags.
This is the website for the Surf life saving association who patrol the beaches.
http://www.sls.com.au/
Perhaps stating the obvious here - is he aware of surfing etiquette? The beaches of Torquay and so on will have their locals who are not impressed with visitors. He is on "their beach". So things like not dropping in on someone's wave etc are a big deal and can lead to fights, swearing etc. I think this is standard around the world of surfing. I'm sure that if he talks to them and makes it clear that he is from another country he should go a long way, as will talking to the surf shop people.
This is the site for the surf riders associatio
http://www.surfrider.org.au/
He will have a good time.
For the worried mother.
No one has ever drowned whilst surfing/swimming between the flags.
Oct 19th, 2011, 12:37 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shandy and PeterSale, thank you very much. Just the sort of information I needed. I had a good chuckle at the surfing etiquette and will be sure to educate my son if he doesn't already know. He surfs a lot but in the Mediterranean - so you can see why he is not used to Australian waves. He also kite surfs and I believe St Kilda is good for that? We will be spending 2 nights there after GOR. And I will make sure we stop only at patrolled beaches.
Oct 19th, 2011, 01:32 AM
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St Kilda is VERY popular for Kite Surfing. I have only watched and was amazed at the numbers.
Port Phillip Bay is much safer for swimming and other water sports and has patrolled beaches, water police and coat guard
St Kilda Pier is near the famous Acland Street shops. Famous for European cakes, Coffee and fashion. Monarch cakes is our favourite cake shop but the others are very good as well. Chocolate gugelhoph is our favourite. They sell it by weight.
Luna Park is worth a visit for its old fashioed feel and the longest continuously operating wooden roler coaster called the Scenic railway. It is tame enough that my mother went on it for her 80th birthday! It is the only one left in the world (I think) that has a brakeman on board.
The sunday market is quite good as well famous even.
http://www.stkildamarket.com/index.php
It is 20 years since I lived in St Kilda (Elwood actually) so this Mild warning may be out of date - St Kilda is a place of mixed heritage. It is very trendy to live and visit there but it was (still is?) a centre for prostitutes. I've never had any trouble there but you may wish to avoid being out really late at night ie after most restaurants etc. have closed. Fairly typical for most cities I would say, but fore warned is fore armed.
Just double check with where you are staying or other Fodorites about where you intend to go at night. Day time is perfectly safe, or as safe as anywhere else in Australia. My nieces go there regularly with no trouble.
Have a great time Melbourne and Victoria are both lovely.
Port Phillip Bay is much safer for swimming and other water sports and has patrolled beaches, water police and coat guard
St Kilda Pier is near the famous Acland Street shops. Famous for European cakes, Coffee and fashion. Monarch cakes is our favourite cake shop but the others are very good as well. Chocolate gugelhoph is our favourite. They sell it by weight.
Luna Park is worth a visit for its old fashioed feel and the longest continuously operating wooden roler coaster called the Scenic railway. It is tame enough that my mother went on it for her 80th birthday! It is the only one left in the world (I think) that has a brakeman on board.
The sunday market is quite good as well famous even.
http://www.stkildamarket.com/index.php
It is 20 years since I lived in St Kilda (Elwood actually) so this Mild warning may be out of date - St Kilda is a place of mixed heritage. It is very trendy to live and visit there but it was (still is?) a centre for prostitutes. I've never had any trouble there but you may wish to avoid being out really late at night ie after most restaurants etc. have closed. Fairly typical for most cities I would say, but fore warned is fore armed.
Just double check with where you are staying or other Fodorites about where you intend to go at night. Day time is perfectly safe, or as safe as anywhere else in Australia. My nieces go there regularly with no trouble.
Have a great time Melbourne and Victoria are both lovely.
Oct 19th, 2011, 03:03 AM
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Incidentally, if he stops at Anglesea tell him to go up to the golf course. He will have a good chance of seeming the kangaroos which roam about it. The best chance is usually later afternoon. If he doesn't see any from the roadside, he can go right up to the Clubhouse and have a look. There are a lot worse ways of finishing a day by having a drink from the bar and sitting watching the kangaroos. They also do a reasonable meal.
Oct 19th, 2011, 03:23 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks again. We will be in ST Kilda for a family event and both nights there will be at catered venues. I don't think we will be wandering the streets late at night but I guess the younger generation may continue to hang out elsewhere after. But they will be with their Aussie cousins anyway. I am sorry I will miss the Sunday market as I love markets!
By the way, I have posted before to ask if the Otway Fly is worth it. It looks cool to me but what do you think?
By the way, I have posted before to ask if the Otway Fly is worth it. It looks cool to me but what do you think?
Trending Topics
Oct 19th, 2011, 03:18 PM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We Enjoyed the Otway Fly. It is great if you have not done something like that before. We also did the one in Western Australia. My wife has done the one in Tasmania (on a school trip)and says they are all the same. The species of tree changes of course, but the experience is much the same. Consequently, I haven't done the one in Tasmania. It is great to get upt that hight and to look at the trees swaying!
Up to you and how you feel about heights. But a great thing to do.
Also in the Otways look out for the black snails. We sawa couple before finding out that they were rare and unique.
The Melba Gully part of the Otway National Park has glowworms along the track and is worth a visit at night if you are nearby.
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/ass...elba-Gully.pdf
Up to you and how you feel about heights. But a great thing to do.
Also in the Otways look out for the black snails. We sawa couple before finding out that they were rare and unique.
The Melba Gully part of the Otway National Park has glowworms along the track and is worth a visit at night if you are nearby.
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/ass...elba-Gully.pdf
Oct 20th, 2011, 02:18 AM
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Otway Fly is certainly worth doing if you have not done something similar before. As PeterSale says, there is not a really big difference if you have done others before.
They also have have a zip line tour now which looks as though it would be really good fun. I haven't been since they added it so haven't tried it out.
They also have have a zip line tour now which looks as though it would be really good fun. I haven't been since they added it so haven't tried it out.
